214: PART THREE

They both headed to the kitchen, to clean up their mess and both washed the dishes.

"Seriously, though. What's your deal? What happened with the new girl from the newsstand? She was pretty, wasn't she?"

"She was gorgeous." He sighed.

"What went wrong?"

I just realized that no matter how amazing that woman is... She can never compete with you. No body else can, anyway.

"She just wasn't my type,"

"Ugh, yeah. You and your I'm-so-picky crap. That's exactly why you've never been in a relationship."

"Whatever you say, Diapeys." He grinned.

Tzuyu noticed something in his eyes. That unusual spark there, it was something new.

Or has is always there and she just noticed?

She gasped, "Oh my God. You're in love!"

Mingyu's eyes grew wider and he sure knew his cheeks were glowing tomato but he tried to keep his cool.

"Yeah, right. Get your head out of your ass, Tzuyu. That ain't gonna happen,"

"Who is it?" She teased more than she asked.

"No one. I tell you,"

"Nope. Who is it?"

"Cut it out,"

"Not stopping until you tell me first!"

"Tzuyu,"

"Tell me and I'll never bother you again,"

"Why do you care?"

"Because! I'm your best friend. I wanna know if she's someone I think you deserve!"

"Really? Well in that case, you're gonna love her,"

She gasped-- yet again.

"So there is someone! I knew it!"

Aw shit.

"Tell me her name..."

"Nope,"

"Tell me!"

"You can't make me,"

"Hah! Challenge accepted, my friend! Tell me tell me tell me tell me..." She went on and on, getting more annoying by the second and now started poking him on the cheeks.

"Stop--"

"Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me--"

"It's you gadammit!"

Oh dear God.

"What?!" Tzuyu took a step back.

"Youuuu~ na. Yoona! It's Yoona! That's right!"

"What? Who's that? SNSD's Yoona?"

"Damn," he said, gruffly. "Okay, no. There's no use in lying. It's you Tzuyu. It's always been you..."

"What did you say? Me?"

"Yes,"

"You're in love with me?"

He nodded.

"Is that why you left your date early? For me?"

"I would've chosen you any other way, Tzuyu."

"But I'm your best friend!"

"You think I don't know that?! What do you think stopped me all these years from telling you?"

"But--"

"I know it's a lot to take and I never planned on making you aware, anyway! It was you who got it out of me!"

"But--"

"Tzuyu, I'm not asking you to feel the same way. I respect our friendship as it is. Please... I don't want to lose you. If being your smelly diapers best friend is what it takes to keep you beside me, then I'll gladly be that!"

"But you're Mingyu..."

"And you're Tzuyu... The girl whom no body can compete with." He chuckled nervously.

"I don't know what to say,"

"Just say that I'm not gonna lose you." He held her hands but she quickly pulled away.

"Mingyu, I just got out of a long-term relationship,"

"I'm not asking you to be my girlfriend. I'm asking you to just be there,"

"Oh my God, I can't believe this,"

"Neither can I,"

"How long--"

"Thirteen years,"

"Thirteen years?!"

"Yeah,"

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I wanted to. But I guess the universe didn't want it that way. Every time I got the courage to tell, something always gets in the way." he couldn't look at her, he wanted to disappear. Is it possible that the earth swallow me right now?

"Like what?" She asked looking at him.

"Your parents divorcing, your pet dog dies, I don't know... Things like those I guess." He shook his head, "Jun was the latest." he chuckled frustratingly.

No one said a word after. They stood still like that, pondering on what has just been out in the open air.

Until Mingyu decided to break the growing cold ice.

"I have to go," he pursed his lips as he look at her.

"Wait," she said while gripping his wrist. "Let me see something,"

Mingyu couldn't believe it when Tzuyu wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. As much as he wanted it, for so long it has been his dream and it's finally becoming real, but not this way.

He pulled away, "Tzuyu, I understand you're hurting right now, and you have no idea how much I wanted this, how many times I dreamt of this happening and not once did I turn you down-- that's not the point. I want you, but not like this. I don't want to be some rebound guy. I'm here for you as your best friend,"

"You're right,"

He sighed before he walked out the door. When he was finally outside he fought the urge to cry.